Ralph Dale Earnhardt was born in 1951, and was a passionate stock car racing fan from a young age. Inspired by his father's success on the track, he dropped out of school to pursue racing, a commitment which would produce a record equalling 7 NASCAR sprint cup championships. His breakthrough successes came in 1979; his first full season where he impressed the establishment and the fans, and winning the title 'NASCAR Rookie of the Year'. 'The Intimidator', was born the following year when he won his first championship. In addition to consistent racing success, 'Dale Earnhardt Inc' was incorporated in the late 1990s and became a major supplier of NASCAR merchandise and eventually a NASCAR team. But Earnhardt never raced for his team, choosing instead to remain loyal to Richard Childress and the team which made him a household name. His name was now synonymous for speed and aggression. Earnhardt insisted that true racing pedigree was instilled in drivers that were fearless and ready to win at all costs. However popular with the fans, his career was cut short at the 2001 Daytona 500, where lacklustre safety apparatus failed to protect the 49 year old from a collision on the final lap.